Celestial Worlds

Chapter Six

"You slept on the couch?"

We are in the living room, Me, Jonathan, and Debby. Debby brewed us coffee with milk, which is both sweet and bitter at the same time. I turned to Debby who looks really worried if I slept well on the couch. "Yes," I say with a smile.

"You could've slept in the attic." Before I can pipe in, Jonathan speaks up.

"Come on. If I were to choose, I choose the couch. We both know that the attic is creepy as fuuuuuuuuuuu....dge." Jonathan stops at the last part like he changed the word. His mom narrows her eyes at him. Jonathan smiles and for a moment, Debby softens and smiles at her son.

I don't know why this makes me sad.

"Really," Jonathan finishes. He gives me a look that says 'believe me'.

Debby considers this for a moment and finally gives in. "I just don't want you freezing down here," She says with sad eyes.

I give a genuine smile. "I appreciate the kind offer but really, there's nothing wrong with this couch. It's quite comfortable." I pinch the couch's cushion to demonstrate. Debby gives a small laugh at that and I see Jonathan smile. I wonder why Jonathan isn't acting weird about this. Maybe he sees his mother happy about this or maybe they've discussed this matter yesterday.

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There is a knock on the door.

Debby and Jonathan had to run an errand so I'm left alone at home. Funny how they trust me so easily. I could be a seventy year old who is dressed up as a girl and is going to murder then in midnight while they're asleep. Luckily for them I'm not.

I stand up and peek through the screen door. No one is there. It's in the afternoon and it's blazing hot. I open the door and lean out the doorframe. No one is there. This is an isolated rice field. I step out and something hits my foot. It's hard and metal. I look down and see a black briefcase. Why would someone leave a briefcase. Then I see it. The Circle. I quickly pick it up-it's quite heavy-and clutch it to my chest, hugging it tightly. I speed inside the living room, shutting the screen door. I scramble to get to the couch. I run my fingers to the embossed symbol of the Circle. It's coloured black, like the rest of the case, just like the other things with the mark of the Circle. The symbol matches their colour so they don't become more obvious. The Circle gleams in recognition. It's for me. It opens automatically at my touch then it reveals some green paper. Money. They've sent me money to sustain my needs. There is also a letter above all the cash. I open it.

Dear Angel,

Here are some cash to help you survive the next few months. We have provided to with $50,000. We will provide you with the same amount every month until your last month. Please sustain yourself and don't forget your quest angel. The official start of your day count begins today. 153 days left.

Grand Monarchy

153 days. How am I supposed to do all this in one hundred fifty three days? Well that's that.

Someone steps on the porch stairs. Debby. I shut the case and slide it underneath the coach just before Debby bursts inside the house. I clasp my hands on my lap and smile at her, hoping she doesn't see something in my face that would give me in. Debby is smiling wide and Jonathan enters a minute after Debby does.

"Did you guys have a good day?" I ask them politely. Debby turns to me and smiles even wider. Jonathan laughs at her mother's expression.

"Wonderful," Debby says. She starts washing the dishes and Jonathan sweeps the floor. I feel odd doing nothing so I stand up and try to take the broom from Jonathan.

"Here let me have that," I offer. I wipe my hands on my-Debby's-cotton shorts and extend both of my hands.

"Oh. No. You shouldn't. It's fine really." He says with a grin. He turns back to the floor and starts sweeping again.

I clear my throat. "I insist." I say with a stern voice.

"Ohhh... I'm shitting my pants right now. I'm so scared." He says with mock horror. He laughs and says, "No, really I'm fine." I give my best grumpy face and go back to the couch.

I clear my throat. "So, what are you guys so excited about?" I ask. Jonathan stops for a while and smiles.

"Mom's field got done early. They're starting a new batch. We earned a lot of money today...so that means we go home tomorrow morning."

"Go home...? I thought you live here?" He places the broom back and sits beside me on the couch.

He clasps and unclasps his hands on his lap and turns to me. "We do, but only during the weekends. To maintain the plantation and rice field you know? We really live in inner Florida in the Northern Heights."

I panic for a minute. "A-Are you going to leave me here?" Oh no, please no. No, no.

Jonathan seems startled by my reaction because he stutters for words, struggling to keep me calm. "W-What? Of-of course not. You're staying with us right?" He grows calmer this time. "That's what my mommy said right?"

The way he says mommy makes my heart leap. He still depends on his mom and it's quite cute because I've heard that Mortals despise their birth parents. I smile at this and offer a small put sympathetic thank you. He grins a relieved grin and stands up. "Don't do that to me again," He says jokingly with a smile.